Since the rise of Carrie Bradshaw, red carpet “shoe cams,” and office chic signaled by signature red soles, women became obsessed with high heels—and the thinner the heel, the better. But now the stiletto bubble may soon deflate as women go into “high heel detox.”
According to People, the icon of the high heel, the person who lived by “fashion over function,” and trotted on her treadmill desk in boots with 5-inch heels is going—flat. Yes, Victoria Beckham (VB) has decreed, “I’m done with heels!”
Thank u @SusieCollege. Every office should have one of these,work out and work at the same time!! Genius!! X vb pic.twitter.com/OaaCuaIBZP
— Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) March 12, 2014
It’s no secret that carrying high-priced heels in a trendy tote while wearing sneakers was ritual for commuting fashionistas, but now many are just wearing comfy footwear all day long.
Could the fitness trend be causing this? Are women who wear expensive wellness wrist monitors seeing the folly of wearing heels while increasing their steps? Do marathon runners and cross-fit addicts fear that falling off their shoes can cause lasting injuries? Perhaps.
Or is there another reason? “VB,” formerly known as “Posh,” told The Telegraph, that “I just can’t do heels anymore, especially when I’m working,” adding that “I travel a lot. I have to be comfortable.” And so, recently VB has been seen wearing classic white sneakers and leather ballet flats.
Sounds like this trend can be good for employees and your healthcare claims but bad for podiatrists. However, Glamour magazine editor Cindi Leive found some downside to the trend, which started slowly but has become a mania.
For instance, she notes that she bought her work clothes with the intention of wearing heels with them. So the hems of her trousers and skirts are too long when she is in flats, and some styles just don’t look right without the leg elongation.
Other heel lovers commented that wearing flats doesn’t make them feel, or be regarded as, “professional.” The shoe switch can be so traumatic that some employees become anxious. After all, Posh herself once said that she couldn’t think unless she was in heels.
Perhaps the most shocking thing that Leive discovered was that at 5 feet 2 inches tall, some people didn’t know who she was when she wore flats and was 3 inches to 5 inches “shorter” than usual. At a business event, people she knew walked by her, perhaps unsure if she was indeed Cindi or not!
But despite the adjustment, Leive now says she is no longer addicted to the constant wearing of heels, and that people will just have to accept her at her natural height!
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